Oscillating warning light



March 15, 1949.

J. D. KENNELLY OSCILLATING WARNIIGG LIGHT Filed NOV. 13, 1945 Patented Mar. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a light-signal device. The invention is particularly useful in connection with locomotives, trains and other powered vehicles, and also in stationary strategic locations.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple structure which may be operated at low power cost and which will effectively project light rays from a light source which moves in a selected transverse and vertical path. A further object is to provide simple means whereby a light projecting member may be caused to follow an effective path across a field at an elevated position while successively moving to a lower position for transverse movement. A further object is to provide means driven by a single power source for producing a unique path for a light projecting member while projecting beams in a vertical and sidewise direction. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a broken transverse sectional view; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a broken side view in elevation of the apparatus employed for actuating the light projecting means.

In the illustration given, It designates a casing which is open at its forward end, the open end being provided with a transparent plate or lens The lens II is secured within a rubber ring I2 or any other suitable resilient body and the ring is held in position by a flange I3 welded to the inner side of casing Ill and by an L-flange I4 having its longitudinal portion welded to the casing I0.

Supported within the casing Iii on the bottom wall thereof is a base member I5 which may be welded to the casing wall. The base member I5 is provided with a stud I6 which is received within a socket provided by a rotatable support member I8. The support member I8 is equipped with two vertically extending standards I9 and 20. Pivotally supported between the standards I9 and is an elevating arm 2| which merges into laterally extending flanges 22, which are welded to the light reflector 23. By this means, the reflector 23 is pivotally supported upon the swing arm 2| carried by the standards I9 and 2B. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, a spring 24 encloses the pivot of the swing arm 2| and the free end of the spring engages a pin 25. The spring 24 normally urges the arm 2| in a clockwise direction so as to elevate the reflector 23. A light bulb 26 is secured within the reflector and is provided with an electric cable leading to a suitable source of current.

The rotatable support I8 may, if desired, be carried by anti-friction rollers with which the base I5 may be provided or any other suitable means for reducing the friction between the parts may be employed.

Any suitable means for rotating the member I8, as well as swinging the elevating arm 2| may be provided. In the illustration given, I provide a motor Z'I carried by a standard 28 upon the bottom wall of easing Id. The motor 21 is provided with reduction gears 29 through which a shaft 30 is driven. The shaft 30 carries a cam 3| of the shape more clearly shown in Fig. 3, and eccentrically connected to the cam 3| on the outer face thereof is a cam arm 3|? The cam arm 3| is pivotally connected to the drive arm 32. The drive arm 32 is equipped at its end with a head 33 which is connected through a ball joint 34 with a laterally extending arm 35 formed integrally with the standard 29. When cam 3| is rotated, arm 32 is reciprocated and thereby causes the support l8 to oscillate back and forth.

The cam 3|, in addition to driving the arm 32, also actuates the swing arm 2| to elevate and lower the reflector 23. A standard 35 secured to the bottom wall of the casing is provided with a guide passage 37 at its top and receiving the plunger member 38. The plunger member 38 carries at its inner end a yoke 39 within which is mounted a roller Ml. The roller Mi is carried by the shaft 4| whose ends are received within the yoke 39. At its forward end the plunger 38 is provided with a head 42 secured by a ball joint 43 to an arm 44 connected by web 45 to the reflector 23.

In the operation of the structure, the cam 3| is rotated by shaft 3E) and by means of its eccentric connection with arm 32, causes arm 32 to reciprocate and thereby causes the support member I8 to oscillate within casing Ill. Simultaneously, the cam 3| moves the plunger 38 forward and backward according to the contour of the cam 3|, the spring 24 serving to maintain the roller 40 constantly in engagement with the face of the cam 3|.

The contour of the cam 3| is so designed as to elevate the reflector 23 and to maintain it in elevated condition while the reflector is being swung through one complete transverse sweep. The cam then permits the reflector to swing downwardly and to return across the transverse path at a lower elevation. To accomplish this, the

cam 3| has on one side a convex face of relatively long radius which, when it engages the roller, advances the plunger and thus keeps the reflector in a lower position, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 3. The opposite face of cam 3! has a generally convex surface which is of smaller radius. When this face is brought into contact with roller 40, the spring 25 is thus allowed to move the plunger 36 rearwardly and thus elevates the refiector 23. While in this general elevated position, the oscillating arm 32 causes the reflector to move laterally across the path. The elevating face of the cam may be provided with a dip 46 which provides the shortest radius in the course of the cam and produces a sharp elevation in the light near the center of its trans verse course. Also, the ends of the cam may be provided with outwardly extending ribs or bulges 47 which cause a rapid rising and falling of the reflector near the ends of its transverse stroke where the light makes its sharpest rise and fall. Thus the cam 31! produces not only a transverse stroke at the bottom and top portions of the vertical movement of the light, but also accentuates the change of direction of the light, as well as to the center of its transverse stroke by the abrupt changes which thus bring about a simulation of the figure 8 light or a similar light ring. Breaks in the direction of movement enhance the signal effect upon the observer.

The operation of the light structure is brought about through a single motor-driven cam. While the cam has been designed for producing the strokes above mentioned, it will be understood that the face of the cam may be modified widely to permit varying strokes and strokes of light movements of difierent paths.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth certain details as illustrating one mode of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be modified widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In signal-light apparatus, a casing, a support member pivotally mounted in said casing for oscillation, an elevating arm pivotally mounted on said support, a light projecting member carried by said arm, means for actuating said elevating arm to raise and lower said light, and means for actuating said support for oscillating the same and the arm carried thereby.

2. In signal-light apparatus, a casing, a support member pivotally mounted in said casing for oscillation, an elevating arm pivotally mounted on said support, a light projecting member carried by said arm, means for actuating said elevating arm to raise and lower said light, and means 4 for actuating said support for oscillating the same and the arm carried thereby, said first mentioned actuating means including a cam adapted to raise said arm and maintain said arm in raised position while said support is oscillated by said second mentioned actuating means.

3. In signal-light apparatus, a casing, a support member pivotally mounted in said casing for oscillation, an elevating arm pivotally mounted on said support, a light projecting member carried by said arm, means for actuating said elevating arm to raise and lower said light, and means for actuating said support for oscillating the same and the arm carried thereby, said first mentioned actuating means including a cam and spring means adapted to raise said arm and maintain said arm in raised position while said support is oscillated by said second mentioned actuating means.

4. In signal-light apparatus, a casing, a support member pivotally mounted in said casing for oscillation, an elevating arm pivotally mounted on said support, a light projecting member carried by said arm, means for actuating said elevating arm to raise and lower said light, and means for actuating said support for oscillating the same and the arm carried thereby, said first mentioned actuating means including a cam and spring means adapted to raise said arm and maintain said arm in raised position While said support is oscillated by said second mentioned actuating means, and said cam having one long face with relatively long radius and a long face with relatively short radius.

5. In a signal-light apparatus, a casing, a support member pivotally mounted in said casing for oscillation, an elevating arm pivotally mounted on said support, a light projecting member carried by said arm, spring means normally urging said elevating arm toward raised position, a cam having a convex face of relatively long radius on one side and a convex face of relatively short radius on the other side and a projecting bulge of extreme radius between said faces of relatively long and relatively short radius, said face of relatively short radius having a dip of extremely short radius in its central portion and motor means for rotating said cam.

JEREMIAH D. KENNELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,221,483 Kennelly Nov. 12, 1940 2,262,239 Kennelly Nov. 11, 1941 

